Improvement in bridle-bits



A. C. TICKNER.

BRIDLE-BIT.

Patented May 8,1877.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICEEC ARVIN O. TIGKNER, OF SYRAOUSE, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRIDLE-BITS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 190,646, dated May 8,1877; application filed April 7, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARvIN C. TIOKNER, of Syracuse, in the county ofOnondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Bridle-Bits, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to certain improvements in bridle-bits, and hasfor its object to prevent a horse from hugging the bit and from holdinghis head down and to this end my invention consists in constructing thebit portion hollow, and arranging therein a flat metallic spring-bar,attached at each end to the rings to which the check-reins are attached,said spring-bar bearing upon a rod carrying at each end one or morespurs, whioh'fall directly opposite apertures in the bit portion, insuch a manner that if the horse hugs the bit and throws his head downthe check-rein will operate the spring-bar, which, acting on the ends ofthe rod carrying the spurs, throws the latter out and pricks his tongueor mouth, and thereby causes the horse to immediately throw his head upand release the bit, all of which will be fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a perspective view ofmy improved bit for horses, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal transversesection.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the bit portion, which isconstructed hollow and slotted at each end, as at a, for receiving theloops B B, to which the checkfrein is attached. Within the bit portionare arranged two spring-bars, C D, both of which are riveted orotherwise connected at their center to thc bit, as at b, and the bar Chas each of its ends bent, as at c, and over said ends are arranged theloops B, to which the check-rein is attached, said loops having openslots d to permit them to work freely over, while they are guided by,the solid portion or Wall e of the bit. The bar D is provided at or neareach end with one or more spurs, E, which fall directly oppositeapertures f f in the bit, the whole being arranged as shown, whereby,when the horse hugs the bit and throws his head down, the check-rein,being, ot' course, fastened to the check-hook, will draw on the loops Band pull the ends of the bar G inward, thereby forcing the spurs Ethrough the openingsf in the bit, and pricking the horses tongue ormouth, compelling him to release the bit and throw his head up. Therings F F, to which the driving-reins are attached, are connected to theextreme ends of the bit portion, as usual.

With a bit constructed according to my invention the horse is caused toalways hold his head up, for the reason that as soon as he throws hishead down to hug the bit the spurs will prick him 5 and the horse willsoon become accustomed to the bit, and hold his head up at all times,and will not attempt to hug the bit.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

The combination, with the hollow perforated bit A, of the bars U and D,the latter having spurs registering with the pert'orations, and theloops B, all substantially as shown, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim thc foregoing I have hereunto set my hand inthe presence of the subscribing witnesses.

ARVIN C. TICKNER. Witnesses:

Enos H. STEVENS, N. F. GRovEs.

